Hundreds turn out to remember those lost
By Lorraine Shearer
(Story dated: Thursday, November 17, 2005)

Hundreds of folk throughout Orkney paused to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, serving their country during times of war, on Armistice Day, on Friday and again on Remembrance Sunday. (Picture: Kenny Pirie)

The Lord Lieutenant of Orkney, George Marwick, lays a wreath at the war memorial in Kirkwall. (Picture: Kenny Pirie)	Wreaths are laid at the Kirkwall war memorial on Remembrance Sunday. (Picture: Kenny Pirie)

The Remembrance Day parade reaches Broad Street. (Picture: Kenny Pirie)

Orkney’s young and old gathered together in solidarity to remember those who gave their lives in the two world wars and later conflicts at Sunday’s Remembrance Day parade and service.

On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, in 1918, the guns of Europe fell silent.

After four years of the most bitter and devastating fighting, the “Great War” was finally over. The Armistice was signed at 5am, in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne, France, on November 11, 1918. Six hours later, at 11am, the war ended.

The first Remembrance Day was held in 1919, throughout Britain and the Commonwealth. Originally called Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of hostilities the previous year and came to symbolise the end of the war and ro provide an opportunity to remember those who died.

After the end of the Second World War, in 1945, Armistice Day became known as Remembrance Day, to include all those who had fallen in the two world wars and later conflicts.

Two-minute silences were observed at war memorials, religious services and shopping centres throughout the country on Friday and Sunday, and saw hundreds throughout Orkney pay their respects.

On Sunday, in Kirkwall, people lined Junction Road, opposite the Royal British Legion, at 10.30am, to walk with the parade as it set off for Broad Street, for the start of the service on the Kirk Green in front of St Magnus Cathedral.

The Kirkwall City Pipe Band and the flagbearers led the way, as former servicemen and relatives of those lost, joined with numerous organisations to remember.

Representatives of the Fire Service, Territorial Army, Sea Cadets, Boys’ Brigade, Scouts, Brownies, among others, turned out for the day.

A slow march, with crowds either side, took the participants up Castle Street and on to Broad Street.

Once assembled, a scripture reading took place, followed by a lament, the laying of wreaths and the sounding of the Last Post - just as the heavens opened up and the rain began.

After the silence was observed, the parade made its way inside the cathedral for the service, conducted by Rev Fraser Macnaughton, with a reading from Steve Callaghan, OIC’s head of heritage services, and a performance from piper Andy Cant.

The minister called for everyone to remember the day, one which was stained with death and loss and asked that people leave behind the madness of thought that, as a last resort, violence will solve their problems.

Following the reading of the poem In Flanders Fields, by John McCrae, Rev Macnaughton explained its significance.

“Some of the most prolonged and fierce fighting which happened saw hundreds of thousands of men from across Europe and the world die. They lived and died over four years, between 1914 and 1918.

“One of the most-asked questions in relation to Flanders Fields is ‘why poppies?’” Rev Macnaughton said.

“The answer is simple. Poppies are one of the only flowers, when rooted up in dug up soil, whose seeds can lie in the ground for years. Only when someone digs up the ground do they sprout and there was enough rooted-up soil in the battlefields of the Western Front.”

In late 1914, the fields of northern France and Flanders were again ripped open as the First World War raged through Europe’s heart.

“In May, 1915, 90 years ago, when John McCrae wrote his poem, around him poppies blossomed like no one had seen before,” the minister said.

As a Canadian surgeon, Major McCrae, had spent 17 days treating injured soldiers. But the death of one young man particularly affected him and was the cause of his putting pen to paper. He, himself, had to conduct the young lad’s funeral service.

Rev Macnaughton said: “McCrae vented his anguish by composing a poem. In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the poppies that sprang up in the ditches.

“He scribbled down 15 lines of verse into a little notebook.

“A young soldier was watching him writing and approached. On reading the work, the lad said it was an exact description of the scene in front of them.

“The poem was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied with it, McCrae tossed it away. But a fellow officer found it and sent it away to various newspapers in Britain. It was published in the magazine, Punch, in 1915.”

Rev Macnaughton continued: “So much time has passed that there will be no one here today who will have experienced Flanders fields personally. Many of you will recall loved ones, will remember past remembrance services attended by those for whom these places and names in Flanders were all too real.”

And it was because of those who died that everyone today has the opportunity to continue with life, he added.

The wreath-laying ceremony at Stromness. From the left: Bugler, Karen Oag, Girl Guides County Commissioner, Clair Newton, Sinclair Bain, of the Boys Brigade, David Towers, Royal British Legion, Drum major Rianne Wylie, Stromness RBL pipe band, Paul Hounslow, Fire Brigade, piper Mark Wemyss, and, laying the wreath, Station Officer Cliff Gunn, of the Coastguard.

Head bowed, George Gall lays a wreath at the Harray war memorial. (Picture: Michael Moar)	Lest we forget. Davy Wards lays a wreath at the Rendall war memorial. (Picture: Michael Moar)